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(NOTE: Alislam Team
takes full responsibility for any errors or miscommunication in this Synopsis
of the Friday Sermon)

Hospitality

In this Friday sermon Huzuraba stated that one of the attributes of the prophets
is hospitality. In the Holy Quran Allah has mentioned about Hazrat Ibrahim’s
treatment of guests. When guests came he sent a message home to have a meal
prepared. He didn’t wait to see if they had come from far, whether they
were hungry, or whether they had already eaten. He immediately had food prepared
for them. This is how Allah’s chosen ones honour their guests. Our Holy
Prophetsaw set such high standards of hospitality that cannot be seen anywhere
else.

Even before prophethood the Holy Prophetsaw impressed others with his
hospitality. When the Holy Prophet(PBUH) had his first revelation and he came
home feeling very anxious, Hazrat Khadija said to him that Allah will never
humiliate you because you are kind, merciful, you look after people, you are
hospitable, and you always tell the truth. Huzuraba stated that looking after
guests is a way to obtain nearness to Allah and to win His pleasure.

Huzuraba illustrated the subject by quoting some examples of the Prophet’ssaw hospitality. The Holy Prophetsaw also advised his followers on how
he expected them to treat guests. If some one visited the Holy Prophetsaw
and he happened to be eating, he would readily share his food with his guest.
It has been narrated that a follower of the Holy Prophetsaw came to see
him after prayers and accompanied the Prophetsaw to his house and the Holy
Prophetsaw offered all the food that was available in the house to the
guest.

Whenever a large number of guests used to arrive the Prophetsaw would
distribute them amongst the disciples and would always take some of the guests
home himself. Abdullah bin Taufa happened to be one of the guests who accompanied
the Holy Prophetsaw. He relates the Holy Prophetsaw asked Hazrat Aisha
ra if there was anything to eat in the house and she replied the meal I have
prepared for you. The Holy Prophetsaw asked for the food in a dish took
some and asked his guests to start eating by invoking Allah's name. Hazrat
Abdullah bin Taufa states that they did not look at how much they ate and the
same was done with the drink that was prepared by Hazrat Aisha. The Prophetsaw didn’t eat or drink first because he thought it was his right
but he did so because he knew that the food and drink would be blessed by Allah
through his prayers and would be sufficient for his guests. Then they chose
to sleep in the mosque. The next morning the Holy Prophetsaw came to wake
them up for prayers as the Holy Prophetsaw said this was one of duties
as a host if your guest is of similar faith. Huzuraba said that is why we have
this provision in our annual conventions.

The Prophetsaw was well aware that some of his followers used to pass
through phases of severe starvation when there was insufficient food. The Holy
Prophetsaw experienced this hunger more then anyone else. So whenever food
came for the Holy Prophetsaw he would invite all his followers who he knew
were in this condition.

The Holy Prophetsaw didn’t only have short stay guests but he also
accommodated guests who stayed with him long term.

Huzuraba said The Prophetsaw always made sure that guests never felt that
they were being watched while they were eating and the Prophetsaw would
often eat slowly with them so they would not feel embarrassed. A non believer
came to see the Holy Prophetsaw and such was his hospitality that he asked
some one to send goat’s milk the non believer drank to his fill. The
next morning he accepted Islam as he so was impressed with the Holy Prophet’ssaw hospitality.

Huzuraba stated that once a Christian came to see the Holy Prophetsaw and
ate so much that he soiled his bed at night and left quickly embarrassed. However,
he had to return as he forgot his gold cross. He saw the Holy Prophetsaw
washing the bedding. On seeing this he became a Muslim.

The Holy Prophetsaw wanted
to cater for the material needs and spiritual needs of his guests. The Holy
Prophetsaw said one way to respect your guests
was to show him to the door. The followers of the Holy Prophetsaw used
to fully discharge their duties. One on occasion a guest arrived and a disciple
volunteered to take him and then asked his wife to prepare the food and as
there was insufficient food they put their children to bed hungry and themselves
turned off the lamp and pretended to eat alongside the guest so he would
not feel embarrassed to eat .The next morning when this disciple came to
see the
Holy Prophetsaw the Prophetsaw said that Allah was
much pleased with
his conduct.

The Promised Messiahas set a very noble example; the Promised Messiahas
said even if a guest speaks harshly you shouldn’t mind. It would be a
great sin if the guest were to feel any inconvenience. Some guests came and
became upset with the way they were treated and left. The Promised Messiahas hurried after them on foot and caught up with them and requested them
to return. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq ra relates that he came to stay from Lahore
and when the Promised Messiahas went to get food for him, tears came to
his eyes when he saw that the Promised Messiahas was bringing the tray himself.

Huzuraba said the examples set by our Holy Prophetsaw and the Promised Messiahas are for us to follow. Soon the UK annual convention will be taking place.
Some guests are staying with close relatives and others are being accomodated
by the Jama'at. Look after them as much as you can, don’t let them suffer
in anyway. If you find it difficult to cope with the guests then the Jama'at
will help and look after them for two weeks. I hope all those on duty will
take part with great vigour and devotion. The duties need to be done more attentively
and for longer periods of time as the guests will be staying in two separate
areas. May Allah give us the capability to look after our guests to our best
capacity so they suffer no hardship. Aamee.